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Pula Kontra Dilaw DDS Versus Dilawans':: Cults of Personalities' in Philippine Politics Meaninglessly Divide Us!

This position paper proposal argues that cults of personality in Philippine politics unnecessarily divide the nation. It summarizes that the Marcos and Aquino regimes created pro-Marcos and pro-Aquino factions that persist today between Duterte supporters and critics. The paper claims this hinders discourse, prioritizes popularity over competence, and unfairly discriminates against people based on assumed political beliefs rather than issues. It suggests adopting ideology-based politics through open discussion to overcome divisions caused by personality worship.

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Billy Jasper Domingo
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113 views5 pages

Pula Kontra Dilaw DDS Versus Dilawans':: Cults of Personalities' in Philippine Politics Meaninglessly Divide Us!

This position paper proposal argues that cults of personality in Philippine politics unnecessarily divide the nation. It summarizes that the Marcos and Aquino regimes created pro-Marcos and pro-Aquino factions that persist today between Duterte supporters and critics. The paper claims this hinders discourse, prioritizes popularity over competence, and unfairly discriminates against people based on assumed political beliefs rather than issues. It suggests adopting ideology-based politics through open discussion to overcome divisions caused by personality worship.

Uploaded by

Billy Jasper Domingo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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DOMINGO, Blaire Japhet C.

                  ENG 13 THX1: MIRASOL, Audrey Rose


2019-04538                       February 25, 2020
BS Psychology                Position Paper Proposal

‘Pula kontra Dilaw; DDS versus Dilawans’:


‘Cults of Personalities’ in Philippine Politics Meaninglessly Divide Us!

A. Issue and Status Quo:

Because of countless human rights abuses, authoritarian and dictatorial leadership and

other abusive acts, the late President Ferdinand Marcos was toppled by the grieving mass

through the EDSA People Power Revolution. At the height of the protests and rallies, millions of

people sided with the former President Cory Aquino, and the dictator was ousted after his two-

decade reign in power. This marked a turning point in history, where democracy has been

regained by a nation through its people.

This fateful event has still its remains today particularly in the political landscape and

situation in the country. More than thirty years after the EDSA I, its effects still resonate in the

country’s pressing problems and concerns. However, one of its unfortunate aftereffect is it has

created a political division among the Filipinos. Today, pro-Marcos versus pro-Aquino

sentiments are still a lingering political dilemma. It unfortunately continues to fracture the unity

among the Filipino people.

This particular political phenomenon is called ‘cult of personality.’ As sociology

professor Adrian Teodor Popan wrote, cult of personality is when a group of people or the public

engage in worshipful behaviors for a particular regime or individual because of their heroic

image. It is often created through the utilization of mass media, propaganda, the arts and

patriotism (13). As a result, the people’s opinions and actions are manipulated based entirely on
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the influence of public personality. Furthermore, “the cult of personality perspective focuses on

the often shallow, external images that many public figures cultivate to create an idealized and

heroic image” (Wright and Lauer 29).

During Marcos regime’s downfall that led to Aquino’s rise to power, two cults of

personality prevailed. The Reds in support of the dictator and the loyalists of the Aquinos

bearing the yellow ribbon. It still pervades Philippine politics today. One is either assumed as

pro-Marcos or pro-Aquino. Instead of an ideological warfare, political beliefs are associated

more to whom a person follows to. To date, with its contemporary form, a battle is just starting

to heat up between the DDS (Die-Hard Duterte Supporters) who support President Rodrigo with

unquestioning flattery and praise, and their supposed rivals the “Dilawans” — or the people

tagged as such for being critical of the ruling administration.

B. Claim and Arguments

This political war between cults of personalities does not make the country achieve

anything. It just exacerbates the division of an already geographically divided nation and people.

Arguments

1. Cult of Personality is a loyalty to a person, not to the country. Because of this,

incompetency and shortcoming of a particular political personality are often overlooked because

of their massive popularity.

2. Ideological, intellectual, professional and moral excellences should be the

considerations not one’s political background. This is a parasitic characteristic of Philippine

politics. People tend to elect a famous though incompetent candidates who invest on the

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endorsement of a popular candidate. Furthermore, epal politics has gain prevalence in the

country’s recent electoral history.

3. Open discourse has been impeded by close-minded groups who adamantly

support their own leaders. This has led to an unfair discrimination among people. Even

geographical origin has been most of the time linked to one’s political belief. For example, all

Ilocanos are automatically politically colored as Marcos apologists. Also, being critical and

expressing opinion against a particular ruling group or individual always leads to ostracization.

Possible counterargument:

Differences in opinions, division of views is a good sign of a rich and thriving

democracy.

Refutation

It is true if everyone is open to accept differing and critical opinions, however, this has

not been the case in the Philippines. If you speak out against the people in power, they will use

everything and anything at their disposal to silence you. Freedom of speech and press freedom

continue to be suppressed because of the personality-based politics.

Suggestion

Instead of cult of personalities, the people must look into the ideology and standpoint of a

person. I propose that we adapt Ideology politics, and agree or disagree based on how we

believed rather than resorting to mudslinging and personal attacks.

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C. Implications

This topic is a timely and relevant issue that clearly needs a much wider and more open

discussion. It is only through conversations that we can learn the weakness and strengths of the

political dynamics existing in our country. If we further understand that our political beliefs are

rooted in irrelevant criteria such as personality and popularity, then we realize that we have to

make efforts to change the status quo. If we come in to understanding with ourselves, that we

are hating and denying other people their right to speak just because they have different belief to

ours, then we might make amends and become more open with our political views.

On a personal note, I am inspired to write about this issue because of personal

experiences. I was born and raised in Ilocos Norte, which is known to be a bailiwick or

stronghold of the Marcoses. Because of this, I was always assumed to be an apologist of the

dictator’s family and sometimes get ostracized. Hence, through this writing, I want to shed more

light on the matter, not to stand with any political power, but to give other people another chance

to reexamine what possible mistakes they are making because of their political preconceptions.

References:

Popan, Adrian Teodor. "The ABC of Sycophancy: Structural Conditions for the Emergence of

Dictators' Cults of Personality" University of Texas Libraries, August 2015, 13.

doi:10.15781/T2J960G15. hdl:2152/46763

Wright, Thomas A. and Lauer, Tyler L., "What Is Character and Why it Really Does Matter".

Business Faculty Publications, 2013, 29. https://fordham.bepress.com/gsb_facultypubs/2

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Bibliography of Possible External Sources

Gill , Graeme. “Personality cult, political culture and party structure”. Studies in Comparative

Communism. Volume 17, Issue 2, 1984, 111-121.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0039359284900085

Liu, J.H., Gastardo-Conaco, C. “Theory and Methods of a Representational Approach to

Understanding Social Movements: The Role of the EDSA Revolution in a National

Psychology of Protest for the Philippines.” Soc Just Res 24, 2011. 168–190

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11211-011-0131-x

Van Erven, Eugene. “Philippine Political Theatre and the Fall of Ferdinand Marcos.” The Drama

Review: TDR, vol. 31, no. 2, 1987, pp. 57–78. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1145816.

Timberman, D.G. “A changeless land: continuity and change in Philippine politics.” Institute of

Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore (1990)

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